Author's Note: HELLO SORRY THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO UPDATE. I have just been busy with a hole load of shit so here it is! Chapter Ten! EVERYTHING IN ELTALICS (like this) IS LOKI'S THOUGHT

~Lokasenna – Tortured Prince~

Chapter Ten

Loki saw black. Everything went silent. Everything was peaceful. Until the pain like thunderbolts, shot through his nose. The pain was unbearable, and the throbbing followed. It was like drum beats.

Oh Odin's beard.

BANG BANG

Make it stop.

BANG BANG

Please it hurts.

BANG BANG

Will it ever cease?

He felt himself spinning. He resisted everything in his body telling him to wake up. He ignored the soothing voice that told him to open his eyes, in fear of what he might find. He could be back in his cell again. Or, hopefully, he was dead and in Hel. His bones ached and he felt them creak. They had ached for so long, that he had forgotten the feeling without ache. The ache had become a friend to him. He wanted the ache to stay, be there for him when no one else was. But she was here now, the one who had inflicted the wound upon him. Pain suddenly flashed to anger. Anger flashed to rage. Rage flashed to something all the more deadly.

How dare she raise a hand at me?! The God of Mischief!?

He began to open his eyes

I will show her! I will –

"-show them all." Loki mumbled, his green eyes fully open. His forehead creased in confusion at his surroundings. Then he remembered. He was on the run. With a girl who had punched him. His gaze turned to the perfect woman sat in front of him. Her blue eyes watching him, one eyebrow raised. The crease in her forehead was something Loki liked. Loki liked it a lot more than he should. Loki liked her a lot more than he probably should, but was he one for giving in to rules? Frankly, Loki believed that rules were made to be broken.

"Hello princess." Lia grinned. Loki noticed how Lia's two front teeth were a teensy bit longer than her others. Not that meant anything though. "You look absolutely gorgeous." Lia said sarcastically, clearly trying not to laugh. Loki frowned at her, his eyes turning cold and deadly. He hadn't used this glare since he confronted Black Widow back on Midgard.

"Touch me again," Loki started, his voice deep, hollow, mysterious, "and I will rip your hand off and feed it to the wolves." Lia hadn't seen Loki like this before, and it scared her. She didn't want to show that though. Lia wanted to be the one with the power and control, the queen of castle, if you will. She shrugged and looked down at the fire, not even replying. Her shivering pale hands reached for the flaming logs, breathing in its much needed warmth. Her teeth chattered and her whole body shook. Lia looked at Loki.

"Where are we?" The god asked, looking around outside. The snow had not stopped falling and it was getting deeper. Lia sighed.

"We are near to a village. They will help with your arm." Lia pointed out. Loki frowned confused but then looked down at his arm. It was rock solid. Running his hand down it, it felt like running your hand over concrete. Concern took over him. What had he done to do this? Maybe it was the poison? Many people had spoke about the poison causing abnormal side effects. Maybe this was one of them? His mind buzzed and tried to figure out the cure. Lia continued though. "The Asgardians don't go that far. We will be safe there." She tugged Loki's cloak round her further.

"Uh, thanks for the..." She nodded to the cloak. Loki gave her a glimpse of a smile. Lia sighed and rose to her feet. "We must move."

Loki grinned, "Can we not just stay here for a little bit longer?" Lia glared.

"Your arm will be incurable if we wait any longer." She sighed, acting like it was obvious. She walked to him and pulled Loki to his feet. Once again, Lia fell into the trance at how his cheekbones looked in the early morning light. How his eyes showed more pain than any wound would. How his nose swooped down like a slide. How his lips –

"Um, you alright?" Loki asked, bringing Lia back to reality. She knew it would never happen between them anyway. She nodded and moved away from him, walking out of the cave.

They got to the village after a few hours of walking. Lia looked round. The village was small and primitive. Its houses were made from wood, and were decorating with a generous pile of snow which covered the whole roofs. Not many people were around, probably sheltering from the snow she suspected. Snowflakes kissed her cheeks as she walked onto the empty road. Lia saw a huge pole in the middle of the courtyard. On top of it was a statue of a crow. It was in mid-flight, as it were ready to catch its prey. Claws outstretched wings out wide, beak open. Its eyes read danger. Loki had his arm in a sling. It was too weak and falling apart, but that didn't seem to bother him. He pouted, soon becoming bored of how peaceful and tranquil the whole place was, and smiled over at a lone horse, going over to pet the stallion. It had black fur and grey legs. Upon its head was a white mark which identified who it was. Lia frowned confused.

"Loki, we have to get to the healers." Lia urged, but Loki ignored her, running his slender fingers through the horse's mane. Loki knew this horse. He knew the horse ever so well. Lia sighed and walked over to him. "Loki, I'm not playing games!" She nearly yelled, but yet Loki continued to act like he did not hear, his entire focus on this animal. Lia groaned, looking down at her feet. But, that's when she realised it. The horse standing before her had eight legs. Was that even possible? She counted the legs just to make sure.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Yes, she was right. The horse had eight legs. But how? Loki looked at her, finally taking in her presence.

"Lia, this is my son." Loki said, honestly. At first, Lia did not believe him, scoffing it off. But as Loki stared at her intensely, Lia believed it. The horse was Loki's son. "Dont ask how. It's too complex to explain. But his name is Sleipnir, and he is my son." Loki said further, but then turned back to his horse. The horse huffed and stomped its hoof against the floor. Lia smiled, watching Loki. He held such a proud smile, one which only a father would hold.

"How old is he?" Lia asked, not really interested but she loved the sound of Loki's voice.

"Just 50 years. Since he is my son, he will live for thousands and thousands of years. So he is still just a child, aren't you?" Loki teased Sleipnir, ruffling the horse's mane. The horse neighed quietly, nuzzling its huge head against Loki's shoulder. Sleipnir realised his father's stone arm and began licking it with his warm, slobberly, thick tongue. Loki laughed and pushed him away. "No no, Sleipnir. You can't do that." Lia broke a grin at his laugh. It was so genuine. It was so real. Like nothing she'd ever heard before. It made her heart skip a beat. Lia knew that she loved him. She didn't know why, but she did.

Lia loved Loki. Worry flooded her mind. What if he denied her? What if he had someone else on the go? She had never put her heart in someone's hands like this before. Never.

"I can read your mind you know." Loki eventually murmured, watching the horse as it bucked its head back. Lia's heart began beating rapidly. Loki looked down at her, smiling sweetly. "I am glad we both feel the same way."

He turned to her, gently put his fingers under her chin and pressed a kiss against her lips.